Back Roads Germany (Dk Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

238

WALKING AROUND KONSTANZ

The Rhine promenade begins at the

Archäologisches Landesmuseum in

Konstanz and joins a lakeside path that

leads to the ferry terminal at Staad, and

beyond to Mainau, from where boats

return to Konstanz. This enables a one-

way hike of around two hours, with a

string of beaches to stop and swim

along the way. Take bus No. 1 from the

ferry terminal to get back to Konstanz.

BACK ROADS GERMANY

1 Konstanz

Baden-Württemberg; 78462

The largest settlement on the Bodensee, Konstanz (Constance)

avoided being bombed during World War II as it straddled the bor-

der of neutral Switzerland. As a result, its old town remains intact and is

a reminder of the time when the town thrived as an imperial Free

City. It became famous between 1414 and 1418 when the Council

of Konstanz met here to restructure the Catholic Church. The town’s

picturesque lakefront is dotted with promenades and statues.

Above A scene from the Chronicle of the Council

of Konstanz on the façade of a house, Konstanz

VISITING KONSTANZ

Parking

The most convenient parking lot is

just off the Fischmarkt on Münzgasse.

Tourist Information

Bahnhofplatz 43, 78462; 07531 133

030; http://www.konstanz.de/tourismus;

Nov–Mar: closed Sat & Sun

A two-hour walking tour

From the parking lot turn left down

Fischmarkt and cross the main road,

Konzilstrasse, to arrive at the lakefront.

Here stands the Konzilgebäude

(council building) 1 , a conference

and concert hall that began life as a

granary and warehouse. Its name

suggests that it probably served as

a venue for the Council of Konstanz.

Also linked to that era is the Imperia,

a 30-ft (9-m) rotating statue of a

woman at the end of the pier. It repre-

sents a courte san in an Honoré de

Balzac novel, who used her charms to

manipulate the Catholic clergy during

the Council. Back near the beginning

of the pier, another statue commemo-

rates Count Graf Ferdinand von

Zeppelin (1838–1917), a pioneer of

airships who was born in Konstanz.

From here, the lakefront prome nade

passes a series of old warehouses 2 ,

which have been converted into

a restaurant district beside a yacht

har bor. At the end of the promenade

lies the aquarium complex Sea

Life 3 (open daily). Walk back and

con tinue to the opposite end of the

pro menade, cross the Stadtgarten to

the Insel, an island which was long

occupied by a Dominican priory that

is today the Steigenberger Inselhotel.

Cross the Konzilstrasse and turn right

to a pedestrian underpass that

resurfaces on the banks of the Rhine

beside the Rheintorturm 4 , a

15th-cen tury defen sive tower with a

conical roof. The bridge over the

Rhine leads to the Archäologisches

Landesmuseum 5 or State

Archaeo logy Museum (closed Mon),

which is housed in a former convent.

Many of its finds are Roman, includ-

ing 2nd-century bronzes of lion

heads and sea leop ards. Return ing

over the Rhine bridge

and along the pedes-

trian underpass, follow

Konzilstrasse before

turning right down

Münsterplatz 6 ,

which is sur rounded

by old town houses

from as far back as the

15th century. The

nearby Münster (open

daily) commands

attention – built of

local sand stone, the

church has oak doors

that are known for

their carvings of New

Testament scenes.

Later additions include

the Baroque high altar

and the Neo-Gothic

spires, which can be

climbed for views.

From here, turn left

down

Wessenbergstrasse,

WHERE TO STAY IN KONSTANZ

Barbarossa moderate

A central, mid-range guesthouse with

several elegantly furnished rooms.

Obermarkt 8–12, 78462; 07531 12 89

90; http://www.barbarossa-hotel.com

Hotel-Sonenhof moderate

Located close to the Swiss border, this

basic hotel stands in a residential street.

Otto-Raggenbass-Strasse 3, 78462;

07531 222 57; http://www.hotel-sonnenhof-

konstanz.de

Schifff am See moderate

A good waterfront option, close to the

car ferry, this hotel has a fine restaurant.

William-Graf-Platz 2, 78464; 07531 310

41; http://www.ringhotel-schiff.de

Steigenberger Inselhotel expensive

This five-star hotel is housed in a former

13th-century Dominican monastery.

Auf der Insel 1, 78462; 07531 12 50;

http://www.steigenberger.com

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Rosgartenmuseum
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €70; moderate, €70–€150; expensive, over €150